Counter-molding apparatus



April 1930 J. H. SCHARFF'ENBERG COUNTER MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1929 Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JEAN HENRY SCHARFFENBERG, F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 J. HAM- MOND STEWART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS COUNTER-HOLDEN G APPARATUS Application filed January 26, 1929. Serial No. 335,279.

The present invention relates to machines the tread. The counters of such shoes are -lO commonly made with long wings on each side which, or at least the one which .lies at the inner side of the foot, extend forwardly beyond the point at which the steep pitch of the shank begins.

It has been customary heretofore to provide for shoes of this character counters which are substantially flat on the bottom, that is, in which the flange is approximately in one plane, and to attempt to bend and conform the forwadly extending wings of such counters to the inclined shank of the last in the course of lasting the shoe. This procedure has always been unsatisfactory owing to the fact that, on account of its inherent stiffness and the additional stifl'ness given by the flange, the counter cannot be accurately shaped tothe last in this way, even if it is in 'temper more or less during the lasting operation; for, even though it be pressed into more or less close conformit with the last while the upper is being pulle over and made .fast to the sole, it tends to resume more or less its .ori inal shape after removal of the last from t e shoe, and thus impairs the desired appearance and fit of the/shoe.

It has been my object to make counters which, in the course of molding and turning of the flange, are shaped in the wings conformably to high heeled shoes of the style for which they are prepared. In the accomplishment of this object I have produced certain improvements in counter molding and flange turning instruments which constitute the subject of this invention. The said improved instruments may be used in counter molding machines of types previousl known and used, in substitution for the 11101 ing and flange turning instruments with which such machines have heretofore been equi ped.

In the drawings furnished herewit I have shown simply embodiments of the new molding instruments in which this invention resides, omitting the structural and operatin parts of the machine in which they are use because full information of such machines and the manner in which they may be operated to obtain the benefits of the new instruments are clearly .and fully shown in prior patents.

Fig. 1 of these drawings is a perspective view of the improved last or plug constituting one of the cooperating counter molding instruments of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing all of the improved cooperating instruments;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the parts just prior to their coaction in molding and turing the flange of a counter;

Fi 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing t e parts at the conclusion of the counter molding and flan e pressing action;

Fig. 5 is a. si e elevation of a counter molded by means of in improved instruments, showing" its con ormity to the contours of a high heeled shoe.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

Referring to Fig. 5, the dotted outlines show with substantial accuracy the characteristics of high heeled shoes which are pertinent to this invention. The part designated a is the heel seat, on which the heel of the wearers foot rests. This part may be horizontal or slightly inclined, but' if inclined is not very steep. The part b of the shank extends forward in approximately the same plane with the heel seat, but soon curves ownward and has a part c of steep inclination extending to the tread part d of the sole. e representsthe counter or counter stifiener appropriate to such a. shoe, and e is the forward end of the wing which extends along the inner side of the shoe. B inner side in this 'connection I mean the si e which, when the other parts.

the wing of the counter conform properly with the last on which the shoe is built, both longitudinally and transversely, and that this conformity should exist in those parts of the wings which ad'oin the curved and steep- 1y inclined parts the shank, as well as in Heretofore such conformity has been merely attempted, without being successfully achieved, by using counters which have been molded and flanged on a flat bottom former, and attempting to shape their wings to the contours of the shoe making last while carrying out the lasting step of shoe making.

In accordance with this invention I mold the counter originally with contours approximately those of the style of shoe in which it is to be used; and to that end I give the molding members new forms and provide the flange presser with a new element, as will now be described in detail.

The folding instruments comprise two outer mold members 1 and 2, which are usually called molds, and an inner member 3, usually calleda last or plug. With these instruments cooperates a plate 4, the function of which is to wipe over and bend down the 'flange on the bottom edge of the counter, wherefore it is frequently called a flange plate. I will refer to it in this specification, however, as a flange presser. These parts may be mounted, arranged and operated by the same means and in exactly the same manner as the corresponding parts shown in the patent to Ayer, No. 1,600,967, dated Septem- .er 28, 1926, to which reference is directed and the description thereof thereby made a part of this specification, wherefore repeated illustration and description of such parts herein is unnecessary. It may be noted, however, that the parts 5 and 6 shown in these drawings represent the ways in which the flange presser travels.

According to the new steps of the present invention, the forward side of the last 3, which corresponds to the bottom of the shoe making last, is curved outwardly in the part 8, that is, the part which is-embraced by the Wings 6' of the counter, and the adjacent surfaces of the wings or ends 1 and 2" of the molds 1 and 2 are correspondingly curved. The character of this curvature is plainly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Also the flange presser or plated carries a piece 9 connected movably to its advancing end by a pivot 10 and protruding from such end. Thispiece is curved on the side next to the last and molds with a convex curvature complemental to the curvature of the last, above described, and is pressed firmly a ainst the faces of molds andlast by a powerful spring 11 confined between the pivoted member and an abutment 12 on the presser plate.

For convenience of description in this specification, the member 9 maybe called a tiltable presser, and the presser plate 4 may be considered asthe carrier for the tiltable presser, since it has that function in addition to its own function of pressing the flange of the counter. From another point of view the member 9 may also be considered as an inclined extremity of the presser conforming to the outward or bend of the forward face of the last.

As a convenient means for supporting and actuatin the tiltable presser, the plate 4 is preferab y formed with a central forwardly projecting boss or offset 13, in the rear of which is a recess 14 to receive the tiltable presser, and the sides of which provide webs to hold the ends of the ivot .rod 10, while its outer wall forms the a utment 12. In the upper angle between the boss and the body of the plate are lugs 15 holding the wrist connection 16 of the presser-actuating connecting rod 17. For Varying the tension of spring 11 according to the stiffness of the counter material and the pressure desired to be a plied b the tiltable presser to the counter flange, I provide a screw 18 threaded through the abutment 12 in line with the spring and bearing on the spring through a disk 19 in the spring socket. This disk constitutes an adjustable abutment element forming a cooperative part of the abutment 12.

The tiltable presser is prevented from excessive movement away from the spring abutment by stops 20 mounted on the carrier plate 4 and cooperating with lugs 21 on the tiltable presser. Said stops areconveniently made as nuts-adjustably threaded on rods 22 which are set into the carrier plate. Lock nuts 23 secure the adjustments of the abutment nuts. Two such stop means are shown here, but obviously the number of them is immaterial and also their structure may be varied within the scope of the invention.

In addition to the ressing means I have provided also a mem or 24' which projects elow the tiltable presser and may be called, for convenient definition in this specification, an advance wiper or flange layer. Its func t1on is to bear with a relatively light pressure on the projecting edge of the counter which forms the flange and turn it inward and hold it against the face of the last before the presser is brought to bear forcibly on the flange. It is preferably connected to the tiltable presser by a pivot rod 25 which passes through alined holes in overlapping lugs on thetiltable presser and advance wiper, respectively. The ends of the pivot rod project from both sides of the tiltable resser and support helical springs 26, each 0 which has an end 26 anchored in a hole in the side of the tiltable presser, and another end 26 the edge overlapping the forward side of the wiper. These springs are strong enough to cause the wiper to hold the flange close against the face of the last but at the same time light enough to permit sliding traverse of the wiper over the flange without tending to stretch and distort it. That is, the pressure and frictional drag on the wiper on the counter are not great enough to stretch the flange and either wrinkle it or roll it outwardly. The wiper is wide enough to overlie the entire width of the last and long enough in the direction of travel to exert its layin action on the flange immediately ahead of t e advancing end of the tiltable presser. Its face next to the molds and last .is convex, preferably with a curvature approximately the same as that of the part 8 thereof. The wiper may be formed with a stop shoulder 27 arranged to abut on an adjacent surface of the presser 9 in order to limit its backward movement when clear of the molds, as when the flange plate is removed from the machine.

In the operation of molding a counter by these instruments, a blank which has been cut to the outline required to form downwardly dipping wingtips, and has preferably been reviously given a concavo convex curvature by passage between forming rolls according to t e common practice in this art, is placed on the last and externally gripped by the molds in the usual way. As so laced, art 6 of the counter, whic is to forme into a flange, then protrudes from the forward faces of the last and molds.

. Then the flange presser is moved downward (advanced) from the position shown in Figs.

' 2 and 3, to that shown in Fig. 4. In this thereof. The pivoted presser isimmediately followed by the presser plate 4 which exerts a'rigid and unyielding pressure on so much of the flange as lies against the flat part of the face of the last. At the conclusion of this advancing movement, the pivoted presser has reached the ends of the counter wings and then bears throughout substantially its entire length over those portions of the flange which overlie the curved part 8 of the last. Although the resilient pressure exerted by the pivoted presser is less intense than that of the flange plate proper, it is sufficient to mold the counter wing flanges into conformity with the shank part of the shoe making last, the bottom of whichjoins the sides more gradually and less sharply than the angle between the bottom and sides at the heel end of the shoe making last. Although the advance wiper will iiave passed beyond the counter wing tips'at the conclusion of the pressing action, except possibl in the case of counters having extra lengtfl wings, it will have served its purpose of insurin the correct inward laying of the flange beneath the advancing presser and avoiding danger of the flange being curled and'pressed outwardly in any part.

In the foregoing description the terms indicating relationship of the parts have been chosen with respect to the relationships usually obtaining in counter molding machines. But these terms are descriptive and not limiting in effect. It is to be understood that various modifications in the structure and relationship of the several parts herein shown may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the protection which I claim. Thus, for example, it is not essential, although convenient, that the advance wiper be directly connected to the pivoted presser. It is sufficient for the purposes of the invention that it be advanced simultgneously with the pressing means and ahead 0 it.

It will be noted that both the pivot 10, which connects the tiltable presser to the presser plate, and the ivot 25 which connects the wiper to the tiltable presser, are close to the plane in which the work engaging faces of these three connected elements lie. That is. the pivots are so close to this plane, and the pivotally mounted members project so far in advance of their respective pivots, that they are swung outward when, in the course of their forward movement, they encounter the outwardly curved part of the flangesustaining surface of the last. Thus the term close to above used defines that relationship of the pivots to the work engaging faces of the pivotally connected parts, and to the forward extremities of the respective tiltable parts, which enables the reaction of the outwardly inclined surface of the last to turn them about their pivots against the resistance of their respective springs.

IVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Instruments for molding shoe counters with a dip at their wing extremities, comprising cooperating complemental last and mold members, the counter flange-sustaining surface of which last member is outwardly curved in the part flanked by the wing ex: tremity of a counter in the process of being molded, a flange presser for pressing the rear part of the counter flange mounted to travel along the flange-supporting surface of the last, a tiltable presser pivoted to the advancing end of said flange presser and protruding ahead of it, being curved complementally to the outwardly curved part of said surface, and a spring acting between said flange presser and tiltable presser for causing the latter to exert pressure on that part of the counter flange which lies adjacent to said curved surface.

2. Instruments for molding shoe counters with a dip at their wing extremities, compris- 5 ing cooperating complemental last and mold members, the counter flange-sustaining surface of which last member is outwardly inclined in the part flanked by the wing extremity. of a counter in the process of being molded, a tiltable presser adapted to wipe across the flange-supporting face of the last from the extremity toward the curved part thereof, a carrier to which said tiltable presser is pivoted and from which it pro- 5 trudes forwardly, and a spring exerting force on the tiltable presser toward the last member.

3. Instruments for molding shoe counters with a dip at their wing extremities, comprising cooperating complemental last and mold members, the counter flange-sustaining surface of which last member is outwardly curved in the part flanked by the wing extremity of a counter in the process of being molded, a tiltable presser adapted to wipe across the flange-supporting face of the last from the extremity toward the curved part thereof, having a convex face next to the last complemental to said curved part, a carrier to which said tiltable presser is connected and by which it is so moved, and a spring interposed between the tiltable presser and an abutment on the carrier arranged toforce the presser against the last during its operative travel and being yieldable to permit tilting of the presser similarly to the inclined part of the last.

4. Instruments for molding shoe counters with a dip at their wing extremities, comprising cooperating complemental last and mold members, the counter flange-sustaining surface of which last mem er is outwardly curved in the part flanked by the wing extremity of a counter in the process of being molded, a tiltable presser adapted to wipe across the flange-supporting face of the last from the extremity toward the curved part thereof, having a convex facenext to the last complemental to said curved part, and a carrier to which said tiltable presser is connected and by which it is so moved, which carrier is likewise a presser organized to press on the flange at the rear or central part of the counter while the tiltable resser bears on the flange at the wing part 0 the counter. 5. Instruments for molding shoe counters with a dip at their wing extremities, comprising cooperating complemental last and mold members, the counter flange sustaining sur face, of which last member is outwardly curved in the partflanked by the wing extremity of a counter in the process of being molded, a flange presser movable longitudinally across the flange supporting face of the last from its extremity toward the curved part thereof and having a convex curvature complemental to the curvature of'said part,

and a member in advance of said presser adapted to la the flange of the counter blank agalnst said ast face before the pressure of the presser is exerted on the flange.

6. Instruments for molding shoe counters conformably to theheel and shank parts of a high heeled shoe comprising a last having a flange sustaining surface of concave curva ture in the part which is embraced by the wings of such counter, mold members embracin the last, a flange presser movable longituflinally over said face in position to press on a counter flange lying against the same and having a convex curvature complemental to the curvature of said face, and a flange laying wiper arran ed to travel in advance of the presser and Iiend the flange of the counter against said face.

7. Instruments for molding shoe counters with a dip at their wing extremities comprising cooperating complemental last and mold members, the counter flange sustaining surface of which last member is outwardly curved in the part flanked .by the wing extremity of a counter in process ofbeing molded, a flange presser mounted to travel along the flange supporting surface of the last and having a terminal curved complementally to the outwardly curved part of said surface, and a laying member pivoted to said terminal and arranged to bendthe flange of the counter toward said surface in advanceof the engagement of the flangeby said ter-- flange part against the forward face of thfit last.

9. One of the cooperating instruments of a counter molding machine comprising a counter flange presser and a tiltable terminal pivoted to said presser and projecting from the advancing end thereof with its work-engaging surface in substantially the same plane with that of the presser, the pivotal connection between said presser and terminal being close to said plane. a

10; One of the cooperating instruments of a counter molding machine comprising a counter flange presser having a substantially plane pressing face, and a tiltable presser terminal pivoted to. said presser on an axis parallel to the said plane face and having a convex pressing surface. '11. One of the cooperatin instruments of a counter molding machine or molding shoe counterswith a dip at their wing extremities comprising a counter flange presser having a substantially plane pressing surface as to one part and provided with a terminal having a convex pressing face tangent to the plane of said plane face.

12. One of the cooperating instruments of a counter molding machine comprising a counter flange presser, a tiltable terminal piv-' oted to said presser and projecting from the advancing end thereof, and a tiltable flange layer carried by the presser in advance of said terminal.

13. One of the cooperating instruments of a counter molding machine comprising a counter flange presser and a flange layer carried by sald presser in advance of the pressing 1 a counter molding machine comprising a counter flange presser having an outwardly curvedvterminal, and a flange layer hinged to said terminal.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

H JEAN HENRY SCHARFFENBERG. 

